At the same time, conservative critics already have begun a buzz on the Internet about a far less known part of his biography: his adherence to the creed of the prominent South Side church he attends, Trinity United Church of Christ. The congregation posits what it terms a Black Value System, including calls to be “soldiers for black freedom” and a “disavowal of the pursuit of middleclassness.”

In an interview late Monday, Obama said it was important to understand the document as a whole rather than highlight individual tenets. “Commitment to God, black community, commitment to the black family, the black work ethic, self-discipline and self-respect,” he said. “Those are values that the conservative movement in particular has suggested are necessary for black advancement.

“So I would be puzzled that they would object or quibble with the bulk of a document that basically espouses profoundly conservative values of self-reliance and self-help.”

In his published memoirs, Obama said even he was stopped by Trinity’s tenet to disavow “middleclassness” when he first read it two decades ago in a church pamphlet. The brochure implored upwardly mobile church members not to distance themselves from less fortunate Trinity worshipers.

“As I read it, at least, it was a very simple argument taken directly from Scripture: `To whom much is given much is required,'” Obama said in the interview.

Now, let me point out here that is someone questioned a conservative on their faith in such a context, we’d be hearing caterwauling about attacks on Christians. Middleclassness is simply a belief that those with resources, don’t take that as an excuse to belittle those without resources–iow, it’s a rejection of the notion of the Protestant Work Ethic in the worst sense-where one can judge those who are not successful as not being the chosen.

It’s such a simple point and based in the central core of the the teachings of Jesus. To attack it out of stupidity or maliciousness demonstrates the gulf between the races in this country. That such an attack isn’t taken as political opportunism or simple stupidity, shows the vapidity of our press corps.

But Obama scoffed at the suggestion that Trinity espouses a value system that seeks to help blacks exclusively. “If I say to anybody in Iowa–white, black, Hispanic or Asian–that my church believes in the African-American community strengthening families or adhering to the black work ethic or being committed to self-discipline and self-respect and not forgetting where you came from, I don’t think that’s something anybody would object to.

“I think I’d get a few amens.”

Now the stupidest thing written in the article is:

Trinity, which adopted the principles in 1981, highlights them in brief form on its Web site without elaboration. That leaves room for critics to fill the vacuum.

We honor Dr. Manford Byrd, our brother in Christ, because of the exemplary manner in
which he has thrice withstood the ravage of being denied his earned ascension to the
number one position in the Chicago School System. His dedication to the pursuit of
excellence despite these systemic denials has inspired the congregation of Trinity United
Church of Christ. We have prayerfully called the wisdom of all past generations of
suffering Blacks for guidance in fashioning an instrument of Black self-determination,
the Black Value System.

And we shall, beginning in 1982, institute an annual Black Value System-Educational
Scholarship in the name of Dr. Byrd.

This year, 1981, however, we recognize Dr. Byrd as the first recipient of the Dr. Manford
Byrd Award which will be given annually to the man or woman who best exemplifies the
Black Value System.

The Black Value System

These Black Ethics must be taught and exampled in homes, churches, nurseries and
schools, wherever Blacks are gathered. They must reflect the following concepts:
Commitment of God

“The God of our weary years” will give us the strength to give up prayerful passivism
and become Black Christian Activist, soldiers for Black freedom and the dignity of all
humankind.

Commitment to the Black Community

The highest level of achievement for any Black person must be a contribution of
substance to the strength and continuity of the Black of the Black Community.
Commitment to the Black Family

The Black family circle must generate strength, stability, and love despite the uncertainty
of externals, because these characteristics are required if the developing person is to
withstand warping by our racist competitive society.

Those Blacks who are blessed with membership in a strong family unit must reach out
and expand that blessing to the less fortunate, especially to the children.

Dedication to the Pursuit of Education

We must forswear anti-intellectualism. Continued survival demands that each Black
Person be developed to the utmost of his/her mental potential despite the inadequacies of
the formal education process. “Real education” fosters understanding of ourselves as
well as every aspect of our environment. Also it develops within us the ability to fashion
concepts and tools for better utilization of our resources, and more effective solutions to
our problems. Since the majority of Blacks have been denied such learning, Black
Education must include elements that provide high school graduates with marketable
skills, a trade or qualifications for apprenticeships, or proper preparation for college.
Basic education for all Blacks should include Mathematics, Science, Logic, General
Semantics, Participative Politics, Economics and Finance, and the Care and Nurture of
Black minds.

To the extent that we individually reach for, even strain for excellence, we increase,
geometrically, the value and resourcefulness of the Black Community. We must
recognize the relativity of one’s best: this year’s best can be bettered next year. Such is
the language of growth and development. We must seek to excel in every endeavor.

Adherence to the Black Work Ethic

“It is becoming harder to find qualified people to work in Chicago” Whether this is true
or not, it represents one of the many reasons given by businesses and industries for
deserting the Chicago area. We must realize that a location with good facilities, adequate
transportation and reputation for producing skilled workers will attract industry. We are
in competition with other cities, states, and nations for jobs. High productivity must be a
goal of the Black workforce.

Commitment to Self-Discipline and Self-Respect

To accomplish anything worthwhile requires self-discipline. We must be a community of
self-disciplined persons, if we are to actualize and utilize our own human resources
instead of perpetually submitting to exploitation by others. Self discipline coupled with a
respect for self, will enable each of us to be an instrument of Black Progress, and a model
for Black Youth.

Disavowal of the Pursuit of “Middleclassness”

Classic methodology on control of captives teaches that captors must keep the captive
ignorant educationally, but trained sufficiently well to serve the system. Also, the captors
must be able to identify the “talented tenth” of those subjugated, especially those who
show promise of providing the kind of leadership that might threaten the captor’s control.
Those so identified as separated from the rest of the people by:
Killing them off directly, and/or fostering a social system that encourages them to kill off
one another.

Placing them in concentration camps, and/or structuring an economic environment that
induces captive youth to fill the jails and prisons.

Seducing them into a socioeconomic class system which while training them to earn
more dollars, hypnotizes them into believing they are better than others and teaches them
to think in terms of “we” and “they” instead of “us”.

So, while it is permissible to chase “middle-incomeness” with all our might, we must
avoid the third separation method-the psychological entrapment of Black
“middleclassness”: If we avoid the snare, we will also diminish our “voluntary”
contributions to methods A and B. And more importantly, Black people no longer will
be deprived of their birthright, the leadership, resourcefulness, and example of their own
talented persons.

Pledge to Make the Fruits of All Developing and Acquired Skills
Available to the Black community

Pledge to Allocate Regularly, a Portion of Personal Resources for Strengthening and
Supporting Black Institutions.

Pledge Allegiance to all Black Leadership Who Espouse and Embrace The Black Value
System.

Personal Commitment to Embracement of the Black Value System – to Measure the
Worth and Validity of All Activity in Terms of Positive Contributions to the General
Welfare of the Black Community and the Advancement of Black People towards
Freedom.

If you are a Christian, I’d love to know what is controversial about any of the above.